Does a sentencing judge have to articulate a statement of reasons for imposing a consecutive sentence?

While the trial court had discretion to impose consecutive sentencing, it was required to give its reasons for doing so. ( 1170, subd. (c) ["The court shall state the reasons for its sentence choice on the record at the time of sentencing"]; People v. Neal (1993) 19 Cal.App.4th 1114, 1117 ["A consecutive sentence requires the sentencing judge to articulate a statement of reasons"]; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 4.406(b)(5) ["Sentence choices that generally require a statement of a reason include . . . [] . . . [i]mposing consecutive sentences"].)